NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell today faced almost no questions related to player personal conduct during his roughly 25-minute press conference to close the league's annual meeting in Arizona, suggesting the media may have moved past the issue that roiled the sport last season, for now. One question was asked about the Cowboys signing DE Greg Hardy, who is currently awaiting possible punishment from the league. Another question was asked about when Vikings RB Adrian Peterson might be reinstated.
Goodell instead faced questions on potential teams in L.A. and Toronto, the state of Titans' ownership, playing-rules changes, "Deflategate" and a possible texting violation by the Browns. On the lifting of the TV blackout policy, at least for one year, he said league changes on tickets – and the fact there were only two blackouts in the last two seasons – negated the need for the policy.
On the Titans, he noted Texans Owner and league finance Chair Bob McNair met with the owners Sunday night. Heirs have three years after a death to pay estate taxes, and nearly half that time has elapsed in the case of late Titans Owner Bud Adams. While Goodell did not say what the Sunday meeting concerned, it likely involved efforts by the heirs to pay the taxes while retaining enough of a percentage of the team to stay in control.
